Well, I know that many of us are ready for this whole year to be over! DONE! Finished and with good reason. I lost so many people to Covid. It's real and it hurts. The Presidential elections and riots and

just so MUCH!! I feel you. I have had some hard days this year. I have cried more this year than in years past. It has been a struggle on some days, I am still here. I see and hear all that is going on and I don't even watch the news. It's so easy to get caught up in negative conversations that don't bring joy or life and I don't have a desire to hear it or do it.

I have made the choice to choose happy. Oh yes, It's a choice. This is a time for me to meditate and be thankful for a few things. That nobody in my house is sick. That we have a roof over our heads. That extended family and friends are doing okay. That my husband has a job because so many people have lost their jobs even my sister, but we are able to support one another. We are blessed. I will not let these circumstances determine whether I smile or laugh and love. I see light

at the end of this tunnel and I choose joy because that is my choice.

I pray that everyone of you are safe and well. I pray that good things come your way and that you get to laugh and smile! I pray that there always be someone there to hug you when you need the most.

I pray for your Peace!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Good Morning Good People!

Thought of the day...What makes you valuable and precious? I ask because sometimes we are looking for others to value who we are and we put less value on ourselves. You are VALUABLE PEOPLE! Unique and special in your own way! Just wanted to let you know that, while I am not God, not prefect, and don't really know you that well and some whom I do know, that I find you valuable and precious. Not precious in the playful cutesy way, but rather like silver and gold. I am grateful for YOU!

Have an awesome day!

Shabbat Shalom

https://youtu.be/j00_y5xj_dU 

Let them know what treasures they are, but first you have to know that you are a treasure. YOU are VALUABLE and PRECIOUS. You are not all the rejection that you have faced. Rejection is often indication that we have out grown a people, relationship, job, or career or mindset. So let it serve you. Reach as high and as far as you need to get your crown and then when gotten, cock that bad boy to the side with a regal smile for you are a treasure for some are silver, but perhaps you..... are.... GOLD.

Peace

Hey Everyone! Hope that you had an awesome weekend! There is so much going on in my studio here in Charlotte, NC! I am working on new books and characters for even more books and teaching online at Storytelleracademy as well as  Arree.com Creative Camp online! Not to even talk about the beautiful Gullah Geechee Nesting Doll! It's a lot, but I wanted to do a post just to let you see what is going on inside my sketchbook. I keep loads of them now. Didn't like to sketch in my sketch book, but I am even learning how important it is to keep them. I need a place that I can just act out and I do that in and through my sketchbooks! Just putting down ideas and thoughts somewhere where I can go back and collect them and work them out even farther is so fabulous!! 

So I want to encourage you as illustrators, or artist, crafters, kids and parents to try to keep a regular sketchbook handy to write down your amazing thoughts, idea's characters and stories! You'll be so happy that you did!

An Interview with Lilla Rogers of Make Art That Sells LIVE!

Hello Good Peoples, Just coming around to share that I will be live with the fabulous Lilla Rogers of www.Makeartthatsells.com Looking forward to this wonderful time with Lilla! She is one amazing agent and artist. You will not be disappointed I am sure. So come check us out on Monday July 20th @ 12:00pm EST Hope to see you there! https://makeartthatsells.com

The Whimsical Sketchbook - Vanessa Brantley Newton

Hey there Stressed out Adult person! This message is for you.

Are you stressed out , tired and frustrated!?!? Well, I ain't saying this

is gonna heal you, but it might. Check out The Whimsical Sketchbook

over at Sketchbookskool.com It will lift your spirits and make you

smile and laugh. Just what you need to relieve some of the stress you

might be feeling. Please check it out!

Thanks

The World told her that she was to black, poor and small to be anything of value and importance, but her mama always told her that she was black gold. That she was rich in spirit, heart and talent. That she mattered and that she was brilliant, valuable and precious. Mama said, that sometimes the most valuable, powerful and amazing things can come from small ones. It is so important to tell our children that they are worth it and that they indeed matter. Peace

This is for the birds

The Hula-Hoopin' Queen read by Oprah Winfrey

Hey Everyone!

What a happy day when Oprah Winfrey reads a book

illustrated by you! Oprah said my name LOL!!

Enjoy!

What are you planting in your children? What seeds are you putting in their little heads? It is seeds of kindness and self love or hate, fear and low esteem. Our children learn so much from us and how we move through the world. We must give them acceptance, good thoughts and empowerment. Hate is taught. We must be careful the message that we plant inside of them. They deserve our best and if we can't give our best we need to be willing to get the help we need so that what we put inside of them will lead them to greatness!

"Race and the Role of Culturally Diverse Children's books"

The Wonderful Dennis Matthew brings us together to talk about Race and Role

of Culturally Diverse Children's Books. Please check it out.

We need more open talks like this.

Just Like Me Reading

Hey Good Parents and Teachers We are living in strange times right now and our children have so many questions. The one I keep getting asked is how to keep kids inspired and entertained in a pandemic? Well here is your chance to help your kid or a kid to blast off into the art realm! I don't have all the wonderful and smart answers for you. I can only share what Ms. V wants to do. I wanna make art with your kids. Yes indeed I do. My heart is to post a few more videos here over the next couple of weeks and months, but I have another special thing to share. I will be a part of Arree Chung's Art Camp over at Storytelleracademy.com Come and check it out. Your kid can learn how to draw, color and make a project right from home over here! Arree is such a wonderful teacher and works well with all ages of children. I will be coming on to teach a awesome class in Sketchbook making and collage! So if you are looking for a camp for your kids this summer I'd suggest you stop on over to Storytelleracademy.com You'll be glad you did.

Children's Book Week May 4-10 2020 Get Your Bookmarks!

Hello Good People! Well, It's Children's Book Week and we are having a ball! Yeah, I know we are all tired of staying inside, but we need to until we get this nasty Covid-19 issue under control. I am thinking of your children and their real need to do something while home. I have done some readings and you can catch them on Instagram just check under Vanessa Brantley Newton and you will find them. I was asked by the CBC along with some other fabulous illustrators to make a book mark. We have create some really fun ones for you children to download and keep. They even come with activities to do as well. Hoping that it will lift your children's spirit and that they would have a moment of fun! Check it out when you have a moment. Please visit Have fun!

Read Together Stay Together

Hello Good Peoples! Today is the day to catch me again on Instagram Live reading 'Just Like Me". My newest book. This is the last time to catch me reading live on line for a while as I have lots of work to finish up. Hope that your children can come to hear today at 3PM EST today on Instagram Live on my page VanessaBrantleyNewton. Would love to see you there. Have a great weekend!

Storytime With Random House and Penguin Books

Hey there Good Peoples! Looking for more story times for the kids? Well I will be sharing again," Just Like Me". On this coming Friday afternoon at 3PM EST. Hope that you can make it. See you there!

It's Picture Book Week

Hey there Good People! I will be reading my new book, "Just Like Me" for Picture Book Week with Kwame Alexander. On Wednesday April, 29th at 10:30AM EST Come on over to my Instagram Page @ Vanessa Brantley-Newton to hear some poetry. Check out the list Kwame as created of awesome writers and illustrators of children's books. We are going to have lots of fun for sure. See you there.

Collage Fun At Home

Hello Good Peoples

Hope that all of you are safe and doing well.

Welp, We are mostly home with our kids and the kids

are bored and need something to do and you as well.

Okay so here is a little collage project that I wanted to

share with you all. All you need is...

White paper, colored or printed craft paper, gift wrap or what

have you, crayons, markers, colored pencils or temper paint

will do, scissors and glue. That's it!

Watch the video and you will see what to do.

Have fun and please come and tell me all about it or

show me what you all have created! Until then,

be safe and creative!

Shabbat Shalom

Collage Fun At Home With Ms.V

Hey Good Peoples! Since we are stuck at home with our children and family, I wanted to bring you a little craft video for you all try at home. All you need is some white paper, some scraps of papers, glue, scissors, crayons, markers, or temper paint, colored pencils and your imagination. Watch the video and have fun! Would love to hear about or see what you did! Have a great weekend!

J Join in the celebration of Every Child a Reader #BookWeek2020. As an annual tradition of Children’s Book Week, esteemed children’s book illustrators are chosen to create bookmarks which celebrate children’s books and reading. This year, in keeping with the theme of Read. Dream. Share., seven artists have contributed their beautiful and inspiring artwork. These six new 2020 bookmarks created by Vanessa Newton, #theFanBrothers, John Parra, Michaela Goade Design & Illustration, Sydney Smith, Duncan Tonatiuh, are available to print and distribute to children, teens, and book lovers everywhere! https://bit.ly/3aX6UiS BONUS: Download this gorgeous 2020 Children's Book Week poster designed by @CarinBerger! https://bit.ly/2FL9NFs Read all about it in Publisher’s Weekly: https://bit.ly/2xZlnMA Publishers Weekly Please feel free to take it from here as well. Enjoy!!

Reading Just Like Me On Instagram Live

Good Morning Good Peoples what's good? I truly hope that you all are doing well and are safe. On this coming Thursday April,9th, my mom's birthday. She would have been 79, I will be sharing from my new book , "Just Like Me". I will be doing it live from Instagram. I invite you all to come and lets share some poetry together. Come one come all to hear Just Like Me.

Open Wide Your Mouth And Say Something Positive

It's important that even in this crazy rough time that we find something positive to put out there! I mean we are hearing all the negative stuff, but we can find positive things to say a well. Okay here is a craft that you guys can play with. Don't have the time right now to show you how to do it, but I will be coming back with a how to do video. See you soon!

Movie on 3 27 20 at 8 30 AM

In honor of one of the greatest African-American women ever I share this post.  Katherine Johnson is a US treasure. She will forever be Ms. NASA to me. She opened doors not just for black women, but all women of color. I am so moved by her personal story of hardship and victory. I take joy in celebrating her life! She will forever be an inspiration and  hero for me. I did this illustration when the movie, "Hidden Figures" came out. I was asked by SCBWI to create  a cover for our quarterly magazine and this is the illustration that I shared. I was told it was one of the  best that they have ever had, but the response from the internet was awesome as well. So many people reached out. Even Hollywood reached out and shared. It didn't go viral or anything, but people where touched by the illustration. I hope that it brings joy to your heart and will help you to also celebrate the life of Mrs. Johnson. Rest In Power Mrs. Johnson

Coming to Decatur GA

Traveling with Just Like Me

Hello Good People What's good? I have been on a tour for my new book Just Like Me with Random House and Knoff books. I am so very excited to share this wonderful book with you all. It is a book of poems about the things that children or girls go through growing up. We had such fun putting this book together. It made us think about our own childhoods and how we wanted to put into words and pictures what it looked like to us. I didn't have a clue how this book would effect the readers. It has been overwhelmingly sweet and touching. Every single child has shared something about how this book has touched them and I am so blessed to hear each of them Here are so pictures from one of my visits. It was with Embrace Girls in Miami Florida with Velma Lawerence who runs this awesome after school program for girls. It is fabulous. This women should receive every award afforded. She gives from the heart to these young ladies and teaches them so much about how to care for themselves spiritually, emotionally and physically. It's amazing to watch them. I learned so much. I wanted to share with you.

I have new book coming out in few days called,"Just Like Me". It is my very first book of poems for children. While the book focuses on girl as the subject it is not just a book for girls, but all children. I think that children of every age and culture will find themselves in any of these poems. My book birthday is January 14th, 2020 I can't wait to share it with you all.

Well, Happy New Year Good Peoples! I'm back and I am so glad to be cause I miss you all so much and Wix wasn't working for me and I was missing comments and such and I really wanted to get back into blogging this year. Posting a little more and getting to interact with the community and visit your beautiful blogs and share what is going on in my studio and do some tutorials and craft project here as well. A few years back this blog was really busy with visits from everyone and everywhere. I had fun making friends and visiting other peoples blogs. We nurtured and made wonderful relationships and a lot of the artist and illustrators that came to visit here have now become published illustrators, designers and artist and crafters and I am so happy about that. I am wanting to come back to share and encourage and show up. My desire is to share what really goes on in my illustrative world. To tell you about the good, the bad, creative and mad. Hopefully leaving you inspired to try something new. For you to share what you have learnt as well. Social Media is a beast. We know this. I want to create a safe place for people to come and be inpsired, uplifted, filled up and encourage to spread your wings and fly. ALL and I do mean all are welcomed. Kindness and only kindness is shared here. So if you are looking for something to make you smile, create, sing out loud or even dance a little bit, keep coming back! Big Hugs to you all and Happy New Year!